CWG scam: CBI raids premises of five more officials

Casting its net wider, the Central Bureau of Investigation today conducted searches at the premises of five Commonwealth Games organising committee (OC) officials in New Delhi here in connection with the 'overlays' scam, part of the wider scandal in the games held in New Delhi last year.

Raids were conducted at the premises of A K Saxena, Nikesh Jain, R P Gupta, K U K Reddy and Sujith Lal, against whom first information reports were filed in connection with the multi-crore scam. The CBI had earlier arrested Deorukhkar Shekhar, a close aide of former OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi, in connection with the same case.

Nearly Rs600 crore of contracts relating to the overlays project are under the scanner of the agency. Overlays works included supply of tents, marquees, prefabricated units, portable toilets, containers, security fences, furniture, public display LED boards, floor finishes, material handling equipment, generator sets, cabling, UPS, air-conditioners, lighting, civil construction, athletic exercise equipment and grandstands.

The agency had conducted a number of searches in certain premises across the country in early January in connection with the scam in the games, including those of an officer under union sports ministry. (See: CBI raids offices, homes of CWG officials)  

The overlays contracts are also under the scanner of the income tax department and the Enforcement Directorate.

The CBI had earlier registered three FIRs for alleged corruption in the projects and events in the run up to the sporting extravaganza. Two of these cases were in connection with alleged irregularities in the Queen's Baton Relay.